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I think the world has gone mad. There is a local mag' that's handed out daily to commuters on the train. An article in today's edition explaining how a German school teacher is suing one of the students for drawing a rabbit on the blackboard.

It's absurd! Without reading on, one could be excused for never forming a valid theory that would explain such a bizarre act. But it turns out, this teacher is deathly scared of rabbits. Upon seeing the image, she burst into tears and fled the classroom. The evil bunny-drawer claims she didn't draw the image, she only told other pupils about the teacher's irrational response to rabbits.

I can scarcely believe this stupidity on several counts. Firstly, it's irresponsible for the teacher to simply assume someone is guilty without seeking some simple facts. Secondly, these are kids, and kids are playful. Someone in a teaching position needs to be fully capable of coping with acts far more difficult than an image of a bunny rabbit on a blackboard. Third, this is the teacher's problem. It's an irrational response to a non-threatening commonly encountered every-day image, and she should get psychiatric help. It's stupid, wrong and absurd to sue a child for her ridiculous problem.

I am not however trying to diminish the impact to a phobia sufferer, but to encourage it to be recognised as an internal problem and deal with it appropriately. We as a society have rapidly become a group who like to blame other people even when it's nobody's fault. Unfortunately this is not the first instance of stupid legal action, nor will it be the last.

But, until further notice, all my arty friends will have to refrain from drawing bunny rabbits for fear of legal reprisal; and where will this end? Bambi? Cotton-wool balls? Large open spaces (no more rolling landscapes for you!).

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